Some Welcome Summer Reading by Eugene Robinson Washington Post Columnist WASHINGTON -- We're told the economy is on the mend, but we still see six-figure job losses every month. The health care debate has become so polarized that even if it ends in breakthrough legislation, chances are that opponents will still be irate and supporters more exhausted than … [Read more...] about Some Welcome Summer Reading (Guest Voice)
Cash For Old Books
I heartily approve of the government's Cash For Clunkers program. It's a pleasure to finally see money going directly to consumers for buying a new product (a car) and thereby aiding a troubled auto industry. But I also think this program is discriminatory. Why, after all, should only old and no longer wanted vehicles get a government subsidy? Why should only motorists get a … [Read more...] about Cash For Old Books
Rage Against the Machine
I have not said much on any blog concerning the rising tempers taking place at town halls, the "birther" movement, or the nasty words coming from right-wing radio hosts. The reason for that is because there are a lot of twists and turns that I am dealing with concerning the whole mess. But I think I have some thoughts to share, so I will share them, muddled mess they … [Read more...] about Rage Against the Machine
Pakistan’s Major Deal For Troubled Tribals
India and Pakistan won freedom from the British colonial rule in August 1947. Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day anniversary today (on August 14), while India marks it a day later. Let's look at the media reports of celebrations in Pakistan. Pakistani leaders called for peaceful relations with India and announced new rights for tribesmen (in the militant-infested area) … [Read more...] about Pakistan’s Major Deal For Troubled Tribals
Jon Stewart on Glenn Beck’s Healthcare Hypocrisy
From The Daily Show last night, outrageously funny: "If only the ailing Glenn Beck 16 months ago (on CNN) had received the health care he's raving about today (on Fox)." Here's the full Beck from the Dead video. … [Read more...] about Jon Stewart on Glenn Beck’s Healthcare Hypocrisy
Comment System Problems
Hello readers. Disqus (our 3rd party commenting system) has been having some difficulties with spam filters and their databases. As a result, a large number of legit comments have been flagged as spam. We are in the process of un-marking those legit comments (not too fast and not too slow but tedious enough). Disqus is actively working this issue and it's getting … [Read more...] about Comment System Problems
Cheney, Rove and Sleeping Dogs
As the Bush Era recedes in the rear-view mirror, both friends and foes keep revisiting its glory days. The House Judiciary Committee makes public documents that show Karl Rove turning "law enforcement into a tool of partisan politics," and Dick Cheney wants it known that George W. Bush went soft on him in their second term and "turned out to be more like an ordinary politician … [Read more...] about Cheney, Rove and Sleeping Dogs
“Sensible Conservative” Is Not an Oxymoron
I have, as Bruce Springsteen would say, living proof: … [Read more...] about “Sensible Conservative” Is Not an Oxymoron
Eric Millegan Is A Brave Man
Normally here at TMV we generally discuss political issues, we sometimes discuss entertainment issues and once in a while the two subjects meld. I am not one for jumping on to celebrity causes but this is an exception to the rule. For those who are not familiar with the name, Eric Millegan is an actor best known for his role as Zach Addy on the CBS series Bones. He is also … [Read more...] about Eric Millegan Is A Brave Man
Not Feeling Depressed Enough?
We can fix that problem. First, watch Katy Abram (the woman who told Arlen Specter that she didn't want the U.S. turned into Russia) being interviewed by Lawrence O'Donnell. Abram appears very nervous, and rightfully so, because she reveals the cavernous depths of her ignorance every time she opens her mouth. And mind you, this is with an interviewer who, although he is asking … [Read more...] about Not Feeling Depressed Enough?
Michael Vick, Eagles Agree to 2-Year Deal
I posted with the headline, Will Michael Vick Get The Real 60 Minutes Treatment? Not 5 minutes later: Quarterback Michael Vick has signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, his agent, Joel Segal, confirmed to ESPN.com. Vick arrived in Philadelphia Tuesday morning and remained there Wednesday evening. The Eagles will hold a news conference on Friday morning to … [Read more...] about Michael Vick, Eagles Agree to 2-Year Deal
Truman and Churchill No Better Than Stalin: Izvestia, Russia
A resolution passed by the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe equating Stalinism with Nazism has Russians fuming - and lashing out at the the U.S. and Britian for what the Kremlin implies were war crimes that the allies were never punished for. The director general of Russia's Agency of Political and Economic Communications warns that reopening this … [Read more...] about Truman and Churchill No Better Than Stalin: Izvestia, Russia
176 Newspapers Join Up to Charge You–Online Users– $50-$100-$1000s A Year to Read News
Not sure those 176 realize many of them just signed their death warrants to compete with biggie corps that have far deeper pockets. Based on the model as stated so far which has slim details... To choose more than one paper to read, if one had to pay, would cost the heavy reader of news anywhere from $100 to $17,000 a year just to read news. Steven Brill, above, is one of … [Read more...] about 176 Newspapers Join Up to Charge You–Online Users– $50-$100-$1000s A Year to Read News
Who is Olberman’s “Best Person in the World” this week?
If I were you, I'd be on the lookout for pale horsemen flying through the skies, because in addition to other signs of a pending apocalypse, Keith Olberman has named our friend and very conservative pundit, Ed Morrissey, as the best person on the world. Initial rumors that Olberman had: (a) confused him with Ed Schulz, or, (b) suffered from some sort of unfortunate … [Read more...] about Who is Olberman’s “Best Person in the World” this week?
Health Care Reform: Between the Shouts, Calls for Equanimity
Justin Gardner seeks some common ground, as do four physicians in an op-ed in today's NYT. The latter write that, in the debate over reform so far ... We have really discussed only two options: raising taxes or rationing care. The public is understandably alarmed. There is a far more desirable alternative: to change how care is delivered so that it is both less … [Read more...] about Health Care Reform: Between the Shouts, Calls for Equanimity
Are political web sites really all that popular?
Some of them clearly carry heavy traffic, at least in relative terms. For those of us who are addicted to politics and regularly haunt sites like TMV, we probably think this is a fairly important and mainstream topic. But it seems that there are other subjects which draw considerably more eyeballs on the old intertubes. I found an article referencing one such avocation which … [Read more...] about Are political web sites really all that popular?
Geneva Coventions: And The Reality…
Keeping in mind the horrors of the two world wars, a clutch of conventions were adopted six decades ago this month in Geneva, and these agreements still form a bedrock for the laws of war and the protection of non-combatants. The Economist raises important points about these in the present context. "Do the old rules really apply in such conflicts? And if they still do, how … [Read more...] about Geneva Coventions: And The Reality…
Have We Lost Grassley et al. to the “Death Panels”?
For a moment, just for a brief moment, I thought that we were beginning to step back from the brink of all-out, take-no-prisoners combat on one of the most divisive issues surrounding healthcare reform. After alleging that her parents and her Down Syndrome baby would have to stand in front of Obama's "death panel," "so his bureaucrats can decide...whether they are worthy of … [Read more...] about Have We Lost Grassley et al. to the “Death Panels”?
Howard Dean’s warning for Obama
Howard Dean on ABC This Week:If you're not going to have a public option, don't pretend you're doing health care reform.Should Obama take this seriously, or will the Democratic left accept whatever Obama prescribes? In the roundtable discussion after the interview, Peggy Noonan observed,Maybe it would be good for the president if the left got absolutely furious about … [Read more...] about Howard Dean’s warning for Obama
Jim Jones’ whiskey-tango-foxtrot moment
In an interview with Fox News Sunday, Jim Jones confirmed Bob Woodward's account of the message that Gen. Jones brought to our commanders in Afghanistan: [CHRIS] WALLACE: The new U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, reportedly wants more U.S. troops sent to Afghanistan. But according to the Washington Post, you told our top brass in late June that the … [Read more...] about Jim Jones’ whiskey-tango-foxtrot moment